Songs of Summer

Good, Good Father Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. James 1:17  (ERV) Happy Father’s Day. This day hasn’t always been a day of praise for me, but it sure is today.  I am beyond blessed to be raising a little girl who has the best daddy.  He lights up when he walks in the door and lays on the floor to play with her before he does a single other thing.  He knows the words to every toddler song and our house is full of so much singing.  The two of them sit and read stacks of books over and over.  He is a  laughing, playing, silly kind of daddy who delights in that girl of his and is beyond proud to be her dad.  He is also a great stepdad who has built such a strong relationship with Leah.  Luke was going into his senior year when we got married so th...

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV) The Post with the Most Yesterday’s post was the one with the most... hesitation.  I wrote it a while back and I worked on it again in the morning and searched and searched for the right song.  I finally found one I was okay with so I posted it.  Within a few minutes, I deleted it.  It just felt blah.  I was not stressing over it and my thoughts didn’t feel condemning.  I just didn’t like it.  I looked back on it a few times throughout the day to fix it, but I just couldn’t get it where I wanted it to be.  I considered posting it anyway so I had something to show, even on the hard days, but I felt peace with stepping away from it for the day. Is peace our answer for making decisions?  I think so. We go with the choice we feel the the most peace with. ...

1 Peter 3:8-(MSG)-Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Last winter my husband became a head coach for the girl’s basketball team.  I was happy for him because he got to do something he loves to do and he was getting paid for his hobby, but sometimes I felt resentful of how much time it took.  I wished I could have as much time for my own interests.  Why can it be so hard to quit thinking of ourselves and just be glad for someone else? This type of thinking too easily lead to bitterness, which one definition says is “distressing to the mind” and it certainly is! The thoughts of judgement and frustration don’t come from God. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life— life that is full and good .” ...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) Maycee and I were home most of the day by ourselves yesterday.  It was hot outside, but to me it felt fine inside.  The AC was on, but I had turned up the thermostat throughout the day and no one was home to tell me how warm it was.  When Mark got home from golf around 8:30, he said,”Do you really not think it is hot in here?” I shook my head no and he said, “It’s 79 degrees, you are a crazy person.”  I knew he was not talking about my mental health, but my internal temperature control, and he is right, it is crazy.  I am usually cold and don’t realize others are not.  I ...

A word can accomplish nearly anything-or destroy.   It only takes a spark to set off a forest fire a word out of the mouth can do that too. James 3:5 (The MSG) Have your words ever set someone off?    Recently, mine did.  They ignited my daughter’s anger and hurt her feelings. My careless speech destroyed a moment I had to build her up and give comfort after a tough day at school.  Instead, my words were hurtful. She was telling me how some girls at school just don’t like her.  A classmate had posted something critical on Instagram that she felt was directed at her. The insult was very upsetting and it was fresh in her mind as they got to pick new tables in one of her classes.  Hoping to avoid more conflict, she chose a table off by herself.  Then a group of boys came and sat with her.  I didn’t take long for her to notice girls whispering and looking her way.  She felt misjudged and frustrated.  She considered the boy...

“Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.”Romans 12:9-13(CEB) Is there anything better than sleeping in your own bed after being away from home?  I feel the joy of this after being part of Relay Iowa, the world’s LONGEST relay. I impulsively signed up for this and had no idea what I was getting into.  It turned out to be a team of twelve runners divided into two vans.  Each van took a turn running a twenty-five to thirty-five mile stretch across Iowa, while the other van of runners ate or rested. The other van started us off  and we drove to Anthon and waited for them to arrive...

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. I saw a slideshow posted on Facebook called, “Reasons my kid is crying.”  Each picture shows a temper tantrum that you can’t help but laugh at when you read the why behind the cry.  Someone ate all the muffins (it was him), I wouldn’t let her play with dog poop, etc. I can totally relate because Maycee went through a phase of this a few months back.  She didn’t understand the things I wouldn’t let her have (windex, coins, dog food in her mouth) were not good for her.  She threw massive fits when I took them away.  As I listened to her scream or throw herself on the ground, I wondered if I ever seem the same when I’m upset about the things I want and don’t get.   God might not let me have the “thing” I want because he is protecting me. He might take things out of my hands because he has something better for me. Recently, Ma...